Wedding Reception Dance Music and Songs
First dance nerves? A quick guide to great wedding reception dance songs and music…
What’s the perfect Wedding Reception Dance Music / Songs!? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Many new couples find the task of planning a wedding reception dance very daunting! Some decide to take a dance class designed to cover the basics of dancing to most wedding music. This will probably include standard dances such as the Waltz, Fox Trot, Swing, Tango, etc.
Other couples rely on the wealth of experience from the older generations – your relatives might surprise you with their knowledge from a time with no television on a Saturday night! It is traditional for the man to ask the women onto the dance floor at a wedding but you don’t have to observe this etiquette should you choose not to.
Often the groom’s father will step in to dance with the bride, followed by stepping in to dance with his own wife, the parents will dance, and finally the whole wedding party joins in to dance. There are plenty of songs to choose from old and new, but most couples choose something with a special meaning to them – “their song”. Think carefully about what you want for your first wedding reception dance!
Dance Music / Songs
When choosing your wedding reception music you should try to cater for the wider audience which is usually present. You may love hard house music, but it’s doubtful your grandmother will! You might want to consider a mix of Jazz, Motown, Latin, Soul, Waltzes, 50’s-80’s. If you are hiring a DJ or disco, they will probably be able to play music from well-liked bands such as Abba, Sister Sledge, Kool & the Gang, Beatles, Michael Jackson etc. which normally go down well with a mixed crowd.
Many people hire a band which may be specialised (such as a tribute band) or more general such as the bands for weddings featured on LastMinuteMusicians.com. Have a look around and see if anything takes your fancy. The coloured links at the top of this page are a good way to start.
If you hire a live band, they can probably provide the majority of you reception dance music. You can talk with the band in advance and decide on a general play list, but it is normally wise to leave the exact order of play to the band.
They will have a lot of experience performing at weddings and will be able to read the crowd better from the stage. The DJ will be able to fill in the gaps when the band take breaks, and play the night away for the final section of the evening.
Try and follow these general rules and everyone will love your choice of wedding reception dance music!
